This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.
You might ask, “what is going on with Walgreens?” Walgreens, your 24-hour and drive-thru neighborhood pharmacy, is no longer part of the Express Scripts network. Thousands of customers are upset because they have come to rely on Walgreens and Express Scripts!
Express Scripts Causes Disruption
Express Scripts acts as a middleman between pharmacies that provide health care services and employers and health plans who pay for the medication. Payers pay Express Scripts. Express Scripts pays Walgreens.
Since negotiations between Walgreens and Express Scripts were unsuccessful, many of Walgreens patients will now be forced to find another pharmacy to continue using their in-network pharmacy benefits. Express Scripts is causing disruption to the Walgreens patients who currently use Express Scripts because they have to change pharmacies, potentially drive farther to fill their prescriptions, and potentially be constrained by inconvenient hours.
Removing Walgreens from the Express Scripts Program will not result in any lower costs for patients, just inconvenience and disruption to their normal routine. Thousands of customers are upset! How would you feel if you had to switch to another pharmacy?
Express Scripts Affecting the Military
Tricare, one of Express Scripts’ clients, is a health and prescription drug program for men and women part of America’s Military. Walgreens wants to help support the military troops, so it offered a price match or beat guarantee to help protect the military from being caught in the middle. Express Scripts rejected the offer. The men and women in the military deserve better prices and benefits; Express Scripts is standing in the way of this!
Are You Affected? What to do!
Patients with certain prescription insurance plans managed by Express Scripts are affected. Check with your local Walgreens pharmacist or the back of your insurance card. If the back of your card says Express Scripts, you may be affected. Are you ready to give up your Walgreens pharmacist, with whom you have built a relationship and trust? No? Then, contact your local media and voice your dissatisfaction!
What is Walgreens Doing?
Patients who are members of the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens will receive a special discount on the annual membership. This will help minimize disruption to patient’s pharmacy visits. Walgreens cares about its patient and wants to make this transition as smooth as possible.
What Am I Doing?
Walgreens is one of the two pharmacies I use for filling prescriptions. I am supporting Walgreens in this dispute by liking Walgreens on Facebook and following Walgreens on Twitter. I encourage you to also show your support.
2 comments:
We've used Walgreens for years, but have been forced to switch because now we can't use our insurance there. I'm bummed about it certainly.
Lisa - even though I've had the same insurance for a few years, there have been so many changes recently, especially because of the Healthcare Reform. There is so much to keep up with!
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